Ship Heavy packages can be very troublesome. Some items which are considered heavy may include furniture, electronics, equipment, etc. And the shipment of a heavy article is required in most profitable businesses. How To Ship Heavy Items Learn More About It.
Why do heavy items need more care while packing?
There are more chances of shocks, bumps, and possible drops faced by heavier packages than the small and lighter packages. So, the packing needs to be more protective and abundant sturdy than required for small and lightweight articles.
How can we achieve that?
There are simple ways one can follow to make sure that the item arrives at the destination safely
- Note down weight and dimensions
- Big enough boxes
- Cushion the items
- Label them heavy
- Seal the box
- Shake to make sure everything is fine
- Note down the dimensions and weight of the package
While shipping they might ask for weight and dimensions by which they decide how to ship the product, for that reason they should be kept handy. And depending on different weights and dimensions they’ll charge you differently. Bigger and heavier products and packages usually cost more than lighter and smaller packages.
- Use big enough boxes
Big enough boxes must be used so that there are enough spaces to add padding along the sides and the item is protected from all sides.
One must make sure the box should not be overstuffed; the weight should be spread throughout the box.
The carton selected should be strong and withstand the weight, thus making the packaging durable!
- Cushion the items
The cushion material used should preferably be dense. For shipping heavier packages, one must use a thicker packaging layer, e.g., thermocol. The item should be placed in the center and the empty spaces should be filled with thermocol, bubble wrap, or cardboard. Newspapers must be avoided as during shipment they can get compressed and end up not protecting the item.
In the end, nothing in the box should be moving.
- Label them heavy
For a package above 31.5kg, a heavy label should be used. The bright yellow sticker should be beside the address. By using the sticker, the package will be given extra attention and will be handled extra carefully. The weight should be mentioned on the box so that the workers would know how much strength is required to lift it and the proper tool to lift it.
The sticker alerts the employees as well as the customers.
- Seal the box
The box should be stapled or stitched, not only glued because it carries heavy items and it’s not that secure. The box should be sealed with water-activated tape or heavy-duty tape, it is strong and protects it from opening during the shipment.
- Shake to make sure everything stays in place
While shaking if you can hear the items moving then sadly you have to open and rearrange and pack it again because if the items are moving, they can cause damage to the fragile parts of the item and damage the packaging material also!
What carriers can you use for the shipment of heavy items?
Depending on where you live and where you are shipping the product to, the options can vary. the rest of the details will be provided at the carrier office to you including charges and different packages. Different packages may include Priority mail. Priority mail express, express saver, economy shipping, etc. A major difference in all those different post packages is the time taken to ship the required item and the cost. Some of the commonly used carriers are-
- FedEx
- USPS
- DHL
Is Shipment/freight Insurance important?
To be on the safer side one must defiantly get shipment insurance for heavy shipments as most of the time the items are very valuable and no matter how good the company is, there is always a chance that your item may go missing. Shipment insurance offers protection against loss of the item during the. shipment in transit
CONCLUSION
Shipping heavy products can be tricky and more complicated as they are more prone to damage because of all the conveyor belts, transfer to different trucks and forklifts, etc. They also charge extra for heavy shipments. But hope this article helped you and made the process a bit easier.
One must always compare the shipping charges for different carriers as they keep on fluctuating and it can make a huge difference in your profit rates. Therefore, after research. only one must be able to decide which carrier is most suited for them or their company.
FAQ
The cheapest way to ship heavy items?
One can use consolidated freight. But it further depends on the item. Other options are UPS or FedEx, they have good service at affordable rates.
What is the maximum weight UPS will ship?
UPS allows service for up to 150lb and the dimensions should be less than 165 inches in length and girth combined.
